News
WHO Collaborating Centre at the Austrian Health Institute
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established its third Collaborating Centre in Austria. Gesundheit Österreich (GÖG) / Austrian Health Institute, Health Economics Department has been designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies.
With this designation, WHO recognizes the research and networking done by the Austrian Health Institute in the field of pharmaceutical policies. We have long-term experience in pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement analysis in European countries.
As WHO Collaborating Centre the Austrian Health Institute will provide scientific advice and technical assistance to WHO and its Member States and regions and will thus continue working for an improved access to medicines world-wide.
ICUM - Third International Conference for Improving Use of Medicines
In April 2011, members of the international community will assemble in Alexandria, Egypt for ICIUM 2011. ICIUM 2011 focuses on the impacts of interventions, programs, and policies on use of medicines in low and middle-income countries. In each topic area, work at the international, regional, national, institutional, provider, and patient level is of interest. ICIUM 2011 seeks abstracts on two key topics which will be addressed throughout the conference: gender issues and the role of information technology in medicines access and use.
Please read more about the call for poster and the conference under: http://www.inrud.org/ICIUM/ICIUM-2011.cfm.
PHIS Hospital Pharma Report published
In the course of the EU-funded project PHIS (Pharmaceutical Health Information System) the PHIS Hospital Pharma Report was published. The report offers an overview on purchasing policies and financing strategies for medicines in the in-patient sector in 27 countries (European overview) and case studies including a price comparison in 25 hospitals in five countries (Austria, Norway, the Netherland, Portugal, Slovakia.
Please read more about it: http://phis.goeg.at/
New World Bank Book: A Practical Approach to Pharmaceutical Policy
This book offers policy makers a hands-on approach, tested in the World Bank’s field work in many countries, for assessing the pharmaceutical sector, recognizing typical “patterns of dysfunction” and developing strategies to quickly deal with the most urgent problems while at the same time building a platform for sustainable long term policy. Please have a look at the online version: http://issuu.com/World.Bank.Publications/docs/9780821383865 or you can order the book under this link: http://publications.worldbank.org.
Insulin giant pulls medicine from Greece over price cut
According to information from BBC, the world's leading supplier of the anti-diabetes drug insulin is withdrawing a state-of-the-art medication from Greece.
Please read more about it: http://news.bbc.co.uk
IQWiG patient information gets good marks from the World Health Organisation
The WHO review assembled an international panel of five experts who assessed the Institute's work against the highest international criteria for quality. The final report contains a series of recommendations on how IQWiG could develop this programme and strengthen its role as a leading producer of patient-centred and evidence-based health information.
Please read more about it: http://www.iqwig.de
Differential Pricing of Pharmaceuticals inside Europe
This book, written by Prof. Dr. Christine Godt, discusses policies of price differentiation for life saving drugs inside Europe. It documents two different things - a legal expert opinion and the contributions to a conference held in Bremen in October 2008.
Please read more about it: http://www.nomos-shop.de
Crisis in Greece: drug prices also slashed
Greece has announced that it is slashing the prices of 1,551 medicines by an average of 30%, and the drug price commission is to take steps this week to adjust price lists and ensure the cuts reach consumers. Please read more about it: http://www.pharmatimes.com
Summer School on Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 28 June - 2 July 2010, and Pharmaceutical Policy Analysis, 5-9 July 2010 in Utrecht
The Pharmaceutical Policy Analysis course aims to give students insight in pharmaceutical policy making as well as to give a better understanding of the methods available for analyzing the effects of policy interventions. Faculty for this course will be provided by Utrecht University, WHO and the Austrian Health Institute. The course is intended for (post)graduates and professionals within governments, NGOs, industry and universities with a basic knowledge of public health who have an interest in the policy aspects of pharmaceuticals. Please read more about it: www.pharmaceuticalpolicy.nl
PPRI Pharma Profiles are translated into Korean
The Korean Health Insurance Policy Research Institute, the National Health Insurance Corporation has translated the PPRI Pharma Profile France and United Kingdom into Korean. You can download the Korean versions of the PPRI Profiles under Country information.
PPRI Network Meeting June 2010
The PPRI Network will hold its bi-annual meeting this year in Oslo on 7/8 June. The meeting is kindly organised by the Norwegian Medicines Agency, a PPRI network member. The focus of the meeting will be on the pharmacy sector.
Essay Competition for students
Health Action International (HAI) Europe is sponsoring an essay competition open to residents in Europe who are in, or have completed, full-time higher education in the last eight years. The essay should focus on one of the principle areas of HAI Europe’s policy work:
Rational use of medicines, Access to essential medicines, Democratisation of medicines’ policy. Learn more about the competition on the Website of HAI: http://www.haiweb.org/.
PHIS Hospital Seminar
At the end of February the PHIS Hospital Seminar was held in Bratislava. Hospital experts from different countries presented their national in-patient system with respect to medicines. During the panel discusion high level experts from internationl organisations, European associations, public authorities and universities shared with the audience their views of the challenges regarding medicines in the in-patient sector. Read more about the PHIS Hospital Seminar http://www.phis.goeg.at/.
The Austrain Press Agency has published three articles and the results of the activites of the PHIS Network including statements from members of the PHIS Advisory Board. You can find the articles on the PHIS Website under Dissemination / Articles.
Course in the ATC/DDD methodology 10-11 June in Oslo
The course is arranged by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, which is situated at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo. The course gives an introduction to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and the technical unit of measurement, the Defined Daily Dose (DDD). Applications of the ATC/DDD methodology will be presented and discussed. More information on the course can be obtained from the website of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology http://www.whocc.no/
PPRI Members participated in the HAI/WHO Global Pill Price "snapshot"
On 30 November 2009 Health Action International (HAI) undertook a global "snapshot" of the price of ciprofloxacin, a commonly used off-patent antibiotic. Data were collected from 93 countries, where the price for a 7 day treatment course of ciprofloxacin ranged between US$0.42 and US$131. An interactive map on HAI's website presents the results and shows large price differentials across the world for this medicine. More information is available on the website of HAI: http://www.haiweb.org/medicineprices
PHIS Hospital Pharma Seminar
On 26 February 2010, the PHIS Hospital Pharma Seminar will be held in Bratislava. Results of a EU wide survey on purchasing and financing strategies concerning medicines in the in-patient sector and outcomes from a price survey will be presented. Further information: http://phis.goeg.at
PPRI Network Meeting in Vienna
On 26 and 27 November 2009 the PPRI Network will meet in Vienna, Austria. The PPRI participants will share their experiences on pharmaceutical policies, in particular in the light of the crisis, and will discuss challenges for the future.
New Finnish Medicines Agency
Mrs Sinikka Rajaniemi, the Director of the Finnish Pricing Board and as such member of the PPRI network, has been appointed to the Director General of the new Finnish Medicines Agency (FIMEA).
P & R network meeting of competent authorities during the Czech EU Presidency on 16 / 17 April 2009 in Prague
In continuation of the Slovenian Presidency initiative, the Czech Republic is organising the 3rd meeting of competent authorities for pricing and reimbursement of all 27 EU Member States as well as EEA countries in Prague for invited persons.
Article offering PPRI Information on Spain published
The article “Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Information (PPRI) – New PPRI analysis including Spain” was published in the Journal “Pharmaceuticals Policy and Law” (Volume 11(3), 2009) and offers a brief PPRI Pharma Profile for Spain and an analysis based on the PPRI Indicators for 28 European countries, Spain included.
PPRI got short-listed for the European Health Forum Gastein Award 2009
The PPRI project was among the six projects short-listed for the European Health Forum Gastein Award 2009: http://www.ehfg.org/pmshortlist0.html?&L=11
At the press conference of the finalists, PPRI project manager Sabine Vogler presented the objectives and benefits of PPRI: http://www.ehfg.org/446.html?&L=2#c1054